The Department of Public and International Affairs offers a multi-disciplinary post-baccalaureate program in Conflict Management and Resolution (CMR) for professionals, practitioners and students who wish to gain a greater understanding of a variety of conflict in both domestic and international settings. The program is based on a dual-format, blended-course model which includes intensive instructional blocks utilizing face-to-face instruction, video teleconferencing and mobile access followed by self-paced but guided distance education. There is one instructional block a semester spanning two–to–four weeks at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. The program is designed to provide core knowledge, skills, and abilities through a set of modules focused on the theoretical and applied approaches to conflict management. Students acquire the tools to respond to a broad spectrum of scenarios including interpersonal conflict, third-party facilitation and mediation, and larger group conflict. The objective of the certificate program is to give graduates the knowledge and skill set to manage conflict in diverse domestic or international environments. Students may participate in the certificate program while enrolled in a master‘s degree program in another discipline, whether at UNCW or any other accredited university. In order to better address the various career goals of our students, the certificate in conflict management and resolution will have two tracks: domestic and international. UNCW‘s CMR students will have the opportunity to take courses in the Masters Program in Conflict Transformation and Management at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. NMMU utilizes a similar model of course instruction.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the Conflict Management and Resolution certificate program must hold a bachelor‘s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or its equivalent in a foreign institution based on a four-year program. Applicants must have a strong academic record in any field with an overall GPA of 3.00, or a “B” average or the equivalent professional experience. All applicants must submit the following to the UNCW Graduate School:

An application for graduate admission.

Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate)

A 500-word essay on the applicant‘s goal in pursuing graduate work in conflict management and resolution.

Three letters of recommendation from an academic institution or the applicant‘s relevant professional field.

Note

*These admissions requirements apply only to the graduate certificate program in Conflict Management and Resolution. Students interested in combining the CMR certificate program with a master‘s degree from another department will have to meet all admission criteria for that degree.

Certificate Requirements

The CMR program requires 18 hours. The certificate includes 3 core courses (9 hours) that are mandatory for both domestic and international tracks. Students will choose three electives, or 9 additional hours, in one of either the domestic track or the international track. All courses listed will be taught in a semi-distance format where students will be required to attend a block of intense class lectures after which assignments will be completed off-campus.